The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-07-31

much to organize resistance and repulse Com
modore Dupont's fotilla to crafty his evi
| Instincts and that is why, account of the
hatred he bore toward the Burbank family. his
first had been to reply to the liberation al
Candles Bay by the edict which obliged the
slaves VINO had been freed to leave the territory
in forty eight hours.
II acting thus he said, ss'I protect the inter
ests of the planters. They cannot but approve
measure which will prevent the rising of the
slaves in Florida"
The majority had thus applauded without
| reservation this order of Texars, arbitrary
though it 1t was arbitrary, unique, and
| indefensible In freeing his slaves, James Bur
bank was only acting within his right which he
had always possessed. He could have done it
before the war had divided the United States on
| the question of slavery. Nothing had occurred
| to supersede this right. and Texars action was
| neither just nor legal.
But Candles Bay would be deprived of its
| natural defenders. ard Ie4ars object would be
| attained.
This was we'll understood at Castle House;
and it would perhaps nave been better if James
| Burbank had waited till he could act without
| danger. But, We know, he had been charged
| before the Jacksonville magistrates with acting
contrary to his opinions. and SO placed that he
| must conform to them; and, incapable of master
| ing his indignation, he had declared himself
| publicly. and had publicly proceeded before the
people of his plantation to give his slaves their
/ freedom. By doing so he had injured his own
! position and that of his guests and now it must
| be decided in all haste what was to be done.
| :. In the first place-and this very evening the
| discussion tered upon could they go
| back on the act of emancipation No. That
would make difference in the state of affairs.
| Texar would not recognize such a tardy going
| back. Besides, the negroes. when they learned
what the Jacksonville authorities had decided to
| do, would unanimously initiate Zermah's ex-
ample. Rather than leave Candies Bay and be
hunted from the State, they would to
their condition as slaves until the time when
they would have the right to be free and live
freely where they pleased.
But what would be the good of this! They
would. under their old master, defend the plan
ta;ion which had become their home. and with
all the ardor they had been freed.
This Zermah guaranteed. James Burbank
therefore decided that he would recall
what he had done. Ali the rest were of his
opinion.
And they were not mistaken. In the morn
ing. when the decree OF the Jacksonville
committee was known, marks OF devotion and
tokens of fidelity came in from all sides. If
Texar attempted to put his edict in force they
would resist it. II they used force. they would
use force to repel him.
And, besides" said Carroll "svents are hur-
ryine In couple of days, in twenty-four
hours perhaps, the slave question in Florida
will be settled Tomorrow the federal fiotilla
may force the mouths of the st. Johns and
then"
land if the militia, aided by the confederate
troops. make any resistanceP' asked Mr. STAN
nard.
III they resist their resistance will not last
long" said Carol. without ships or gunners.
how can they oppose the passage Of Commodore
Dupont, the landing of Sherman, the occupation
of the ports of Fernandina. Jacksonville and st.
Augustinel When these points are occupied,
the federals will be masters of Florida. Then
Tezar and his friends will have to run"
IF they could only catch him." said James
Burbank, then should if, when he is in
the hands of federal justice, he could substan-
tiate some alibi to escape the punishment he
deserves"
The night passed without the security of
Castle House being disturbed In the morning
the rumors that were flying about were inquired
into The plantation was not threatened that day.
Texars decree had ordered the expulsion of the
blacks in forty eight hours. James Burbank had
determined to resist the order and occupied the
time in preparing for the defense of his house.
1t was, however, important to get at all the
reports from the theater of war. Any moment
the state of affairs might be changed: and
James Burbank and his brother in-law set off
horseback TO learn what they could. Decend-
ing the right bank of the St Johns they rode
toward the mouth of the river so as to explore
for dozen miles the widening of the river,
which ends at San Pablo. where the lighthouse
stands. AS they passed Jacksonville they would
be bile to see if there was any gathering of boats
indicating an approaching attack on Candles
Bay. In half an hour they had passed the
boundary of the plantation
Meanwhile Mrs. Burbank and Alice
walking in the park of Castle House. In vain
Mr. Stapnard tried to calm their apprehensions.
They both had a presentment of a coming
catastrophe
2ermah had been among the barracoons. AL
though the threat of expulsion was known, the
their usual work. Like their old master they
had made up their minds to resist. If they were
free, by what right were they TO De expelled
from the country of their adoption? Nothing
could be more satisfactory than Zermah's report
the blacks of Candles Bay could be trusted.
Eyes," said she, my companions will all
turn to slavery, as have done. rather than leave
their master! And if they are obliged, they will
defend their rights"
Nothing more was to be done than to wait
for the return of James Burbank and Edward
Carol.
At this date. the LIST of March, it was not i'm
possible that the federal aotilla had arrived in
~ pahI i-phf aadv tn
mouth of the ST. Johns. The confederates mad
not too many militia to oppose their passage.
and the authorities or Jacksonville would have
none to spare to carry out their threats against
the former slaves of Candles Bay.
Mr. Perry made mis- daily visit to the different
workshops and storehouses the estate. He
also could bear witness to the good disposition
of the negroes. Although he did not care to ad-
nit it. ne saw that if they had changed their
condition, their assiduity at their work and de-
votion to the Burbank family had not changed.
To resist all that the Jacksonville populace at
tempted against them they were firmly resolved. |
But, IN Mr. Perry's opinion, these fine feelings
would not last Nature would reclaim her
rights. After tasting Independence. these en- |
franchised negroes would return to slavery, and |
return to the place that nature intended for |
them between the man and the animal.
AS he thinking of these things. who should |
he run against but the conceted PygmalioD,
strutting like peacock with his head on high.
his hand behind his back. and evidently thinking
very much of himself as free man. One thing |
was certain, and that was that he was not doing |
mucn WORK
Good morning. Mr.. Perry2" said he su- |
perby.
"What are you doing, Mr. Ide2"
At am taking a walk! Have not the right to
do nothing now q longer a vile slave, and
have the certificate of liberation in my pocket"
.:And who is TO feed you, Pyg?"
81 am, Mr.. Perry"
.sAnd how?"
SPY eating"
"And who is to give you what you eat"
'My master"
"Your master. Have you forgotten that now
you have no master, doodle9"
mo 1 had one. and l shall have one; and
Mr. Burbank will not send me away from the
plantation, where, l can say without Boosting,
am of some use."
But he will send you away
s'Will hes
Certainly When you belonged to him he
could keep you to do nothing But now you do
y hox leho ha